WHETHER it be a regular coffee fix or a chocolate craving, Australians are a bunch of addicts according to a new survey by the publishers of Reader’s Digest.
The survey of 750 adults found that 95 per cent of Australians admit to having an everyday addiction to everything from coffee to chocolate to sporting activities.
The survey was split into three categories: eating, retail therapy and timeout activities. About one-quarter of respondents said they indulged in all three types of compulsive behaviour.
The demographic least likely to get hooked was older men.
According to the poll, 60 per cent of respondents said they regularly craved certain foods and drinks, even when they were not hungry.
Coffee topped the addiction with almost one-third saying they need their regular caffeine fix.
Also ranking highly was chocolate (29 per cent), soft drinks (23 per cent) and chips and lollies (20 per cent).
Many respondents also said they are addicted to nutritious foods such as seafood, nuts and “fresh crunchy fruit”.
According to the poll, 41 per cent of Australians regularly shop for “treats” rather than essentials and 29 per cent of those shoppers nominated bargain hunting as their retail therapy of choice.
True to stereotype, women were more likely than men to consider themselves shopaholics, with 23 per cent nominating clothes and accessories as their weaknesses. Men prefer to treat themselves to hobby items (19 per cent) and DVDs/videos (18 per cent).
The survey also found that 67 per cent of Aussies routinely ignore essential tasks in favour of “time out” activities such as playing computer or video games, browsing the internet or watching TV.
